It's Picket Fence Studios Release Day!

You are going to love, love, love this release from Picket Fence Studios! There is so much goodness to see that it will take more than one day from the whole team! So be sure to check back here, and on all my teamies' blogs, as well as the PFS blog for all of the fun!

My card for Release Day was fun to make -- and incredibly easy! That's the best, right? I used two stamps from the release: Rough Around the Edges and Oh So Many Birthday Wishes. 
Rough Around the Edges is FUN! It's a large 6x6 background stamp that can have MANY looks. I decided to make my background a fun pink and green plaid.

I chose Worn Lipstick and Twisted Citron (my favorites) for my plaid colors, and used my MISTI and Life Changing Blender Brushes to apply and blend the ink on the stamp. Stamped on my cardstock. I turned it 90 degrees, stamped again, and voila! Plaid!

I stamped the sentiment with VersaFine Onyx Black, again using my MISTI, to get good coverage over the Oxide ink. I thought I might add sequins, but ended up with a funky paper flower (Prima) I've had in my stash for my only embellishment on this one layer card.

I love the bold and big look! What do you think?

Check out the entire new release at Picket Fence Studios!

Challenges:

Through The Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes  

Crafting from the Heart - #228 ANYTHING GOES

Tiny Elegance from Whimsy Stamps

Today I have a tiny little Christmas card to show you - that will probably turn into a Christmas tag for a special gift. 

I am using the new Cozy Blanket Background Stamp, along with October's Evergreen Tree Dies from Whimsy Stamps.

I stamped my background with a ColorBox three-color pigment ink pad, and then embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. It has a silver, light blue, and dark blue ink. My tree and background panel are cut out of silver cardstock. I added pearls, some flowers from my stash, and there it is! Perfect to tie on a bottle of sparkling wine, or on a sweet, special gift!

Challenges:
Crafty Sentiment Designs - Christmas 
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes
Double Trouble Challenges - Christmas Holiday
Make My Monday - Winter Foliage

Artsy Isabella

One of the things that I love about all of the Beautiful Girls images at Picket Fence Studios is that many (if not all) are named after family members, family pets, and friends. I think that is so cool! I am using the Beautiful Girls - Isabella image today on my card. She is named after Nicole's niece. And she reminds me of my daughter.
She just looks so carefree and thoughtful, with her own fashion sense.

So I gave her an artsy background made with Distress Oxides, and used one of the new October releases, Happiness Belongs to You (three sentiment set).

I stamped both images with VersaFine Onyx Black ink, using my MISTI. I love the large size of these sentiments, and the versatility of how/when they can be used!

Challenges:

• Lemon Shortbread - Always Anything Goes
• Papercraft Challenges - Friendship
• Creative Fingers - ALWAYS ANYTHING GOES
  

Make Your Mark Challenge!

Hello everyone! Today I am sharing a card for the Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #317: Make Your Mark! Use your pencils, markers, inks, paints, watercolours, etc., and make "a mark" on your card!

For this challenge I am using Trinity Stamps' Hopeful Flowers, a little mini 3x4 set that packs a punch. I had decided to do a black and white card, and then when I was ready to stamp the sentiment (from Caffeinated Sentiments), I knew a pop of color would make all the difference!

I stamped my flower spray with VersaFine Onyx Black, and my sentiment with Stephanie Barnard's Strawberry Red. I thought that might be the only red, but then kept going with one of the floral sprays in Copic Lipstick Red.

Finally, I tied a bow of red taffeta, and mounted everything on a black cardstock base. One of my favorite color combinations!

Come play along with the Make Your Mark Challenge!

Other Challenges:
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes Christmas 
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Christmas and Seasonal Holidays 
Sisterhood of Crafters - Humour
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

November Release at Whimsy Stamps!

There are so many beautiful new releases at Whimsy Stamps! Something for everyone - digital, red rubber, cling, stencils, dies! This is the new Snow Dangle Stencil - along with a sentiment from You're My Jolly.

I used my blender brushes to color my stencil openings (both designs on the same stencil!) using Distress Oxide inks - Worn Lipstick and Twisted Citron. The brushes really help to get into small spaces, like the dots! I stamped my sentiments after the inks had dried, and then added a few sequins to represent snow and add some sparkle.

I love the non-traditional colors for Christmas greetings. What do you think?

Challenges:  
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes 
Send a Smile for Kids -  Happy Holidays 4 Kids or Anything Goes 4 Kids
Polkadoodles - ANYTHING GOES 
Creative Knockouts - Clean & Simple 
Crimbo Crackers - Must Be Christmas Related #170 Anything Goes 
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'  - Anything Goes Christmas

New Releases at Trinity Stamps!

It's an exciting day for Trinity Stamps with so many amazing new stamp sets, matching dies, and tons of beautiful and sparkly embellishments! Be sure to check out the Trinity Stamps blog for all the details on the prizes and how to order, and to start at the beginning of the hop! We're hoppin' with the Trinity Tribe Creative Team today and Monday, so if you have come from Jo's blog, you are in the right place!

My card today is a monochromatic greeting using the new Winter Botanicals stamp set with its matching dies. It measures 4x6 inches and has 28 individual images. This beautiful set contains branches, blooms, and accents to build a number of botanical centerpieces, borders, bouquets, and more. 

I started by making a circle stencil using some blending brushes and Distress ink, and then built my wreath by layers of shades of blue, using VersaMagic Chalk ink.

I added some die cut layers and pearls to dress it up. I love the versatility of this set! I know my team members have some gorgeous creations with it too!

For my second project, I did a simple page in my Bible using the same set. Colossians 3:2 says "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Many times we all feel tossed by the wind, trying to juggle all of the earthly things we deem important. I thought the different botanical elements randomly stamped (somewhat "wildly") represented all of the things I fill my day with - most very unimportant. So I made the word "focus" as center to be a reminder that focusing on the most important (God) can change how the scattered thoughts and activities take over my day. 

Be sure to visit each blog on the hop, and come back Monday for more awesome Trinity Stamps inspiration! Now on to Karen's blog, where she has some AMAZING things to show you!

Here is the complete Friday Hop!

Katie Brooks

Angelica Conrad

Ashlea Cornell

JoAnn Danchik

Christine Kirch

Donna Lewis

Jo Herbert

Judy Rozema

Karen Reategui

Kimberly Wiener

Sindhu Jay

AND - last but not least, I am always inspired by rainbows and bold color makes me happy, so I am linking up with the DT Call for the Rainbow Card Challenge! I love working with different color combinations, and with shades of one color!
(Mynn, I am not sure I have one style, but I love being electic!)

Embossed Birthday

One of the techniques that I loved the first time I saw it was heat embossing. It's just like magic to watch, isn't it? And I still love the raised, elegant look. In my card today, I am using one of the beautiful October releases from Whimsy Stamps, Winter Roses.

It can be a large background stamp, or you can use each image separately, as I have done in today's card.

I started by stamping the rose with gold metallic ink on watercolor paper, and then embossing with gold powder. I watercolored using my Blue Bayou reinker (I know it looks green, but it's in the blue-green family!) and an aqua brush. Once I had my rose painted, I added the leaves with Mellow Moss (both inks from Stampin' Up). I stamped the sentiment words separately with my MISTI, also using gold ink and powder.

Because of the simple stamped design, I had the opportunity to use a beautiful pearlized pattern paper from the Bohemian collection with peacocks that matched perfectly! I added some lace (Michael's) and pearls (Kaisercraft) and mounted each layer on Champagne Metallic cardstock (Prism). I love how it turned out! What do you think?

Just for fun - I think my daughter's cat likes it:

'Tis The Season!

Today I am sharing a super cute, easy-to-make holiday card using String of Lights and the coordinating die from Picket Fence Studios. Red and white always makes me think of peppermints and Christmas candy, so I chose a patterned paper from my stash that fit that design.

I stamped my image with VersaMark ink, and then embossed it with glittery Silver Lightning Embossing powder (Sparkle N Sprinkle). Then the best part - having a matching die! The sentiment (from Santa's Mischief) is stamped with VersaFine Oynx Black ink.  Simple and easy, and a cheery holiday greeting!

It's Release Day at Picket Fence Studios!

It's Release Day at Picket Fence Studios and you will LOVE all of the amazing new things - stamps, dies, ink, stencils..... I just could not decide which two sets to highlight today, so it's a good thing I can show more later!

My two cards for today's release are very different. And that's what I love about stamping! There are so many different styles and ways to send some paper art and love.

My first card is made using the new Weathering the Storm Together set. This is such an amazing group of sentiments that I know I will use over and over. I decided to make a print with my Gel Press, using acrylic paints. The way this one turned out just really seemed to fit with the new sentiment. What do you think?

The texture the paint gives, plus the "inconsistency" of the stencil pattern really visualizes the entire poetic statement. While there is a typo in this prototype, the sets available at PFS will be correct!

My next card is using the adorable A Gnome Winter set. This little guy is the cutest! I made a very traditional card, coloring him with alcohol markers, and using different patterned papers to complement his sweet hat!

Head over to Picket Fence Studios and see all of the awesome October Release -- plus check out the Facebook page and Instagram account to see my teammates' creations!

PeekaBOO!

Here is a super fun Halloween card using the brand new Whimsy Stamps'  PEEKABOO WINDOW 2 die. Isn't it fun? There are so many awesome possibilities for this die! But -- because it's almost Halloween, I knew my little fat spider would be making his home in one of those squares! 

I have had that spider sticker for a looong time, and finally found the perfect place for him.
I stamped the WEB BACKGROUND in VersaFine Gray, and then used some fun Doodlebug patterned paper for the die. I added BOO in black cardstock using the Bold ABC die set.

Fun and not too scary! Happy Halloween!

World Cardmaking Day Fun!

Happy World Cardmaking Day! I hope all my crafty friends got in at least one or two today!
I made this sweet flamingo greeting using my favorite color - PINK! I also love summer for its sunny days and trips to the beach! 
This could be a perfect card to send during October's Breast Cancer Awareness month. My images are from Picket Fence Studios from a set called That's Flocking Great.

I used the newly released 3 1/2" Blending Stencil with Spun Sugar Distress ink, and then stamped my flamingos and sentiment in VersaFine Onyx Black ink. I added three pink sequins (Doodlebug) and some torn tropical paper for interest. Easy and fast and super cute! Don't you love their eyes?

Through the weekend, PFS is having a SALE! See below!

Challenges:

• Allsorts - Trees and/or Leaves
• Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin - Use A Stencil
• Polkadoodles - ANYTHING GOES
• As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Season
• TIME OUT Challenges - Breast Cancer Awareness & Option of One Layer Card

New October Releases at Whimsy Stamps!

I am just in awe of the new releases every month at Whimsy Stamps. There is always something for everyone - stencils, digital images, backgrounds, red rubber, and cling! Plus the array of designs each month is just astounding. I am so happy to be a part of this awesome team.

This month's release is just as wonderful and diverse! (But on a side note, how can it be OCTOBER?! I swear it was just July.) I am starting out with a combination of two new images: Evergreen Trees Die Set and You're My Jolly sentiment set.   

When I make monoprints, I always clean my brayer on a sheet of white cardstock. Those "cleaning sheets" actually end up being a beautiful combination of colors. The one I chose today was a perfect fall leaf combination for my tree.

I first made a circle using Antique Linen Distress Ink and a circle stencil, then stamped my sentiment words in VersaFine Sepia. I cut my tree (and another from the die set) a couple of times to see which print design I liked better, and ended up using both, stacking them on top of each other for dimension. I tied linen thread around the front two distressed edge panels, and it's ready to mail!

You can see the full sets for both new releases below - and be sure to visit the Whimsy Blog for so many gorgeous creations from my teammates!

BUT before you go -- 

This begins TONIGHT! Click {HERE} for all the details! It's a month-long festival of prizes and projects!